Santa Cruz animal shelter: Woman made up homeless dog story

The Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter announced on Monday that a "Good Samaritan" found an injured dog alone in downtown Santa Cruz on Dec. 12.

The woman said that a black and white Springer spaniel was tied to a pole outside a thrift store on Front Street near Soquel Avenue, and a sign reading “homeless” was hung around the dog's neck.

An investigation by the animal shelter, however, revealed that the dog actually belonged to the "Good Samaritan," Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter General Manager Melanie Sobel said Tuesday afternoon.

"The owner admitted to making up the story to avoid paying veterinary fees or euthanasia fees to the shelter," Sobel said.

A veterinarian had recently told the owner that her 15-year-old dog should be euthanized because it was suffering from advanced-stage cancer.

Sobel said if shelter workers had known that the dog was suffering from an incurable and painful cancer, they could have humanely euthanized it right away to prevent suffering. Instead, the dog was kept alive until Sunday.

"Nothing could have saved this dog," Sobel said.

Furthermore, the location that the woman lied about finding the dog abandoned is an area where homeless men and women frequently hang out. The "homeless" dog story ignited unfair criticism about homeless residents owning pets, shelter workers said.

"The irresponsible actions of this owner have shed a negative light on homeless animal owners in our community," Sobel said. "Most of these owners, while they don’t have a place to call home, are often responsible and loving caretakers."

While many pet owners leave their pets alone for at least eight hours a day to go to work, homeless pet owners are with their animals 24/7, Sobel said.

"A lot of times they are best friends," Sobel said.

Santa Cruz County Animal Shelter employees stressed that they will take in any stray, unwanted, mistreated, neglected or abandoned animal, free of charge.

"There is never any reason to abandon an animal, especially one that is suffering," Sobel said.

The SCCAS' two shelters are located at 2200 7th Avenue in Santa Cruz and at 580 Airport Boulevard in Watsonville.

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